Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani has won the race for New York City mayor, beating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. 

The 34-year-old State Assembly member had been leading across polls since his improbable victory against Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary. However, Democratic leaders, including New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, refused to endorse him.

Israel-Palestine emerged as a central component of the campaign as Mamdani faced consistent attacks over his refusal to condemn the phrase, “From the river to the sea,” a call for Palestinian liberation.

Mamdani has repeatedly referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide and vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he comes to New York City. As an assembly member, he co-sponsored a bill that would establish a civil penalty for nonprofits that fund illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine.

In contrast, Cuomo is a longtime supporter of Israel and has criticized Mamdani’s stance on the issue.

In recent weeks, Mamdani, who is Muslim, has faced an increasing number of Islamophobic attacks from Cuomo and his supporters.

During a recent radio appearance, Cuomo laughed when the host asserted that Mamdani would cheer another 9/11 attack. Days later, his campaign posted an AI-generated video showing a Black man putting on a keffiyeh, stealing from a store, and declaring himself a “criminal for Mamdani.”

The ad was deleted in response to overwhelming backlash.

“To be Muslim in New York is to expect indignity, but indignity does not make us distinct — there are many New Yorkers who face it,” said Mamdani in a video addressing such bigotry. “It is the tolerance of that indignity that does. In an era of ever-diminishing bipartisanship, Islamophobia has emerged as one of the few areas of agreement.”

The Mamdani victory was immediately praise by progressive organizations.

“Zohran’s historic win in the largest city in the U.S. proves that the people support Palestinian rights,” said US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action Executive Director Ahmad Abuznaid. “They’re fed up with establishment politicians who arm Israel by the billions while Americans can’t afford groceries. They want their tax dollars to fund care for their communities, like food, housing, and healthcare—not sent to a foreign apartheid state to fuel endless war and genocide.”

“Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for mayor stood for all the things that New York City, our country, and the Democratic Party must aspire to: an abiding respect for human rights and the dignity of every person, including Palestinians,” said IMEU Policy Project Executive Director Margaret DeReus. “Mamdani will not just make history as the first Muslim mayor of New York City, but as a leader who stood against Israel’s genocide and listened to the majority of voters who want our government to stop supporting Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians.”

“Today, we celebrate not just a municipal election, but a reclamation,” said Americans for Justice in Palestine Action in a statement. “The resounding victory of Zohran Mamdani for mayor is a watershed moment for New York City, signaling a powerful and undeniable shift at the heart of the Democratic electorate. This win is a testament to the vibrant, unapologetic movement that believes housing is a human right, not a privilege; that social welfare is achievable, not just an empty promise; that public goods are cherished and expanded; and justice is not a slogan but a practice.”